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Syria Project

Our work on Syria sheds light on the ongoing struggle of Syrians to fulfill their desire for democratic self-governance as the United States and the international community grapple with the aftermath of a devastating civil war, millions of refugees across the Middle East and Europe, and ongoing security and political challenges spilling over Syria’s borders.


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Syria Strategy Project

The Atlantic Council, Middle East Institute, and European Institute of Peace collaborate with subject matter experts and policymakers in the US, Europe, and the Middle East to develop a holistic strategy to sustainably forge a pathway to resolving Syria’s crisis.

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Working with our allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

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New Atlanticist

Jun 28, 2012

Former Turkish Official: Assad Fall May Lead to Chaos in Syria

By Barbara Slavin

Former Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, one of Turkey’s longest-serving diplomats, said the situation between Turkey and Syria might actually get worse if President Bashar al-Assad leaves or is overthrown because chaos will hurt Syria first and Turkey second.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jun 26, 2012

Turkey’s Prudent Management Ends Syria Crisis

By Ross Wilson

Four days after Syria’s downing of a Turkish F-4 fighter aircraft, the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan brought the crisis to a close by securing NATO support, reporting its views to the UN Security Council, complaining formally to Damascus, and altering the rules of engagement along the 500-plus mile border with its neighbor […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jun 26, 2012

Why NATO Won’t Go To War Over Syria Shooting Down Turkish Jet

By James Joyner

This week, the North Atlantic Council (NAC) will meet at Turkey’s request to discuss what NATO should do in response to Syria shooting down a Turkish F-4 last week. The short answer will almost certainly be: not much.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 22, 2012

Plane Incident Increases Turkey-Syria Tensions

By Ross Wilson

The loss of a Turkish jet fighter off the coast of Syria signals a further escalation of tensions between Damascus and Ankara, raising the stakes for Turkish leaders who have heretofore limited themselves to diplomatic efforts and mostly quiet support for Syrian refugees and opposition leaders.  It is unclear what brought down a Turkish F-4 […]

Syria Turkey

New Atlanticist

Jun 22, 2012

Syria: Ethnonationalism and the New World Disorder

By Robert Manning

As the horrific tragedy in Syria continues to unfold amidst calls for intervention and growing fears of a region unraveling, it is useful to recall that a troubling proportion of conflict and disorder in the world is driven by the powerful force of ethno-nationalism.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jun 15, 2012

Syrian Intervention Is Justifiable, and Just

By Anne-Marie Slaughter

Henry Kissinger recently argued against intervention in Syria [The perils of intervention in Syria,” Sunday Opinion, June 3] on the grounds that it would imperil the foundation of world order. His analysis was based on a straw man, one put forward by the Russian and Chinese governments, that outside intervention would seek to “bring about […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jun 15, 2012

Brent Scowcroft Warns Against Syria Intervention

By Barbara Slavin

Brent Scowcroft, a veteran Republican voice on US foreign policy, said the United States “isn’t smart enough” to solve the Syria crisis and “would pay a heavy price for [military] intervention,” in an interview with Al-Monitor Washington correspondent and Atlantic Council senior fellow Barbara Slavin.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jun 5, 2012

Pressure Mounts on Russia To Switch Horses in Syria

By Barbara Slavin

The US, Europe and Arab nations are mounting a concerted effort to convince Russia that it can maintain its alliance with Syria without Bashar al-Assad at the helm.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jun 5, 2012

The Quandaries of Anti-Interventionist Advocacy

By Dan Trombly

For those seeking to limit the role of military interventions in American foreign policy, making arguments convincing for a policymaking audience has been a persistent difficulty. Despite the existence of a significant popular aversion to intervention, mobilizing members of the policymaking elite behind anti-interventionist policy choices has always been difficult, and anti-interventionist stances, at least […]

Syria United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Jun 4, 2012

Syrian Intervention Risks Upsetting Global Order

By Henry Kissinger

The Arab Spring is generally discussed in terms of the prospects for democracy. Equally significant is the increasing appeal — most recently in Syria — of outside intervention to bring about regime change, overturning prevalent notions of international order.

Syria

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